The RPI Challenge

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has repeatedly slammed President Trump over his ongoing diplomatic outreach to North Korea, claiming that the move just gives legitimacy to a dictator. He has been joined by several other Democratic candidates in this attack. Why are the Democrats trying to out-neocon even neocons like Pompeo when it comes to diplomacy versus war? Tune in to today’s Liberty Report:

President Trump has threatened to “obliterate” parts of Iran if “anything American” is attacked by the country. This, combined with “all options on the table” clearly suggests the use of nuclear weapons. In an article in today’s American Conservative, former US Marine and nuclear weapons inspector Scott Ritter shows how last year’s US Nuclear Posture Review outlines scenarios that make this nightmare a possibility. Watch today’s Liberty Report:

Today’s appearance of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller before the House Judiciary Committee to discuss his report on Trump Campaign collusion with the Russian government may be a last ditch effort to make the election all about impeachment proceedings against the president. Will this strategy fall flat on its face? Is Mueller falling flat on his face? Russiagate? Watch today’s Liberty Report:

This year’s Intelligence Authorization bill contains language drafted by the CIA itself designed to make it a criminal act to reveal the name of undercover agents whether stationed overseas or at home, whether working or retired. The measure is designed – in the CIA’s own words – to prevent the kind of transparency that was provided by Wikileaks. It is a war on the free press! We have the details in today’s Liberty Report:

The latest neocon scheme is to push US allies to send warships to join a US-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz “free and clear” for shipping. In reality it is a trigger for war. Thus far the US has no takers for this clear escalation. Will Bolton’s brigades begin peeling away EU hold-outs? The US is sending troops to Saudi Arabia and building up a massive airbase. Meanwhile, Iran claims to have broken up a CIA spy ring in country. War drums beating. Watch today’s Liberty Report:

The media is reporting today that the US will send 500 troops to Saudi Arabia to confront the Iran “threat” to the region. Just over a decade ago the US pulled its troops out of Saudi Arabia after acknowledging what Bin Laden had said about his motivation for the 9/11 attack: US troops on Saudi soil. Is it really a good idea to put troops back in? Watch today’s Liberty Report:

Turkey’s decision to purchase a Russian-made missile defense system has led the Trump Administration to cancel its planned sale of 100 F-35 fighters to Turkey. Also under a 2017 law to punish Russia for “meddling” in US elections, Trump will be obligated to apply sanctions to Turkey – a NATO ally! Watch today’s Liberty Report:

House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) told Fox News over the weekend that the repeal of the 2001 war authorization after 9/11 and the 2002 war authorization for Iraq would “illegalize” the entire war on terror. How does retaining permission to attack Iraq and Afghanistan permit the “war on terror”? Today in the Liberty Report:

Yesterday CNN was the sole source of an article accusing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of trying to seize a UK tanker in the Persian Gulf. Though CNN claimed there was video of the attempt, none has surfaced. Iran strongly denies any such attempt. Is this another psy-op to drum up support for a US attack on Iran? Bonus topic: A new Pew Poll shows that US military members do not believe recent wars have been “worth it.” Maybe we should listen to them. Watch today’s Liberty Report:

President Trump has threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2020 if Congress adopts the House version of the bill, which increases military spending by $16 billion but does not come close to the $33 billion increase the Administration demands. When it comes to military spending…how much is enough? Watch today’s Liberty Report:

This week, Taliban and Afghan government officials met for the first time at talks hosted in Qatar and organized by Germany. The modest early agreement may pave the way to the end of the 18 year war. Meanwhile today the US resumes talks with the Taliban also in Qatar. Will the Trump Administration find a way to pull out of Afghanistan? Watch today’s Liberty Report:

Days after the UK – at US request – seized a tanker filled with Iranian oil near Gibraltar, a UK tanker in the Persian Gulf has made an abrupt u-turn and abandoned its mission to transport Iraqi oil to Europe. Now sheltering in Saudi waters, the tanker fears a tit-for-tat Iranian retaliation. Is this a case of “unintended consequences” for the US-engineered July 4th Iran tanker seizure? How far will this escalate? Watch today’s Liberty Report: